The Perfect Couple by Valerie Hansen

Author:Valerie Hansen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2006-09-09T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

When Kara had finally given up and gone to bed that night, her list of no-nos had begun with, “No kissing.” It had ended with, “No hugging.” There was nothing else in between.

The more she'd thought about Tyler on a personal level, the worse her dilemma had become. Naturally, she wasn't going to embarrass them both by listing the most obvious things she wouldn't do. He knew what kind of woman she was. And she was certain he was the kind of man who wouldn't press her for unacceptable intimacy. That was one of the main reasons she'd agreed to their mutual deception in the first place. She trusted him. It was that simple.

The rest of her feelings, however, were much more complicated. By dawn Sunday morning she'd developed a sizable tension headache. What she'd wanted to do was pull the covers up over her head and pretend it wasn't time to get ready for church. What she'd done instead was choose the most attractive dress in her closet, put on light makeup, and head for town to keep her promise.

The old stone church sat atop a rise, giving it a heavenly quality when viewed from the base of the hill. Folks parked all the way around it. Kara pulled into her usual spot. She'd often heard it said that the pickup truck was the official vehicle of Arkansas. Church parking lots helped confirm that idea. There were at least as many trucks as there were cars, and a lot of the people who drove cars on Sunday had a truck at home, as well.

Kara gathered her bible and purse and hurried into church before she could change her mind. Pausing in the rear of the sanctuary she scanned the backs of the parishioners who were already seated. It was easy to spot Tyler. Dark-haired and taller than half the men present, he was sitting in almost the same spot he'd occupied the week before.

Kara smoothed her softly draped, sea-foam-green dress, gathered her courage, and was just about to start down the aisle to join him when she felt a tap on her shoulder. As usual, she jumped. As usual, it was her sister.

“Morning, kiddo,” Susan said brightly. Her husband, Mark, came up behind her. She gifted him with a loving smile and took his hand. “We swung by your place on our way, to offer you a ride, but you'd already left.”

Kara could feel her pulse pounding in her temples. She pressed her fingertips to the sides of her throbbing head and took a deep breath. “Thanks, anyway.”

“Hey, are you all right?” Susan leaned closer to study her sibling's expression. “You look kind of spaced out.”

“I have a terrible headache.

I wondered why you wore your hair down, to day. Too much weekend?” Susan probed.

Kara could hardly tell her the whole truth. “Too much everything. I've thought so hard lately, my brain hurts.”

“I'll bet you have. I noticed your truck parked out at the ranch yesterday.”

Kara's head snapped up. She looked quickly from Susan to Mark and back again.

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